Big Bad Beast

Pride Series, Book 6

By: Shelly Laurenston

Narrated by: Charlotte Kane

Ric Van Holtz is more than he seems, nothing you expect - and everything you want...When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute, rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz is making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe. He's wanted the fiercely independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected their teamwork to be so explosive. Now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male, but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight...and between the sheets.

©2011 Shelly Laurenston (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Mallet has realized a fascinating, historically derived world whose characters, especially Amir and Erik, are skillful variations of Ottoman archetypes. The plot is simple, but the pacing is excellent. Good commuter and down-time reading." ( Booklist)

Shelly Laurenston always rocks!

What did you love best about Big Bad Beast?

I already have all of the books in this series in ebook format and I have been looking for them to be presented in audiobook format for years. I'm glad this has finally happened to some of the series books and I impatiently await the others with bated breath. No one does characters that you get attached to, fall in love with and basically what to know what is happening in their lives like Ms. Laurenston's characters. It is like a real family, a real town, that you love to visit.

What other book might you compare Big Bad Beast to and why?

All the books in this series are great. I first discovered this series when Ms. Laurenston wrote for Samhain Publishing in ebook format an I believe she has garnered a wide audience because she is such a great writer. There are only a few authors that have made me have such a strong connection to their creations and a couple of them are Michelle Sagara's Chronicles of Elantra Series or Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry Series. When I know one of their books is being released, I pre-order and wait impatiently for months for that date to arrive. However, even though these are all sci-fi fantasies you can't really compare apples and oranges. The comparison is only in the context of strength of character.

Have you listened to any of Charlotte Kane’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She is great. The different voices and character interpretation of Ms. Kane is right on the money. She has nailed Ms. Laurenston's characters. Ms. Kane is a great match for the characters in this series. I don't think I have any other audiobooks narrated by Ms. Kane.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Smithville, Not just your average southern town.

Any additional comments?

Put all of Ms. Laurenston pride and pack series on audiobook. PLEASE!

Wolf-Wolf Project: Success.

Book six is another hit for me with this series. It did take me awhile to warm up to Dee Ann, because let's face it she was a royal B%$#& in the last book. She cleans up well and the love between her and Ric grows. I liked how Ric knew since he was six that she was the gal for him to feed. All the gang is here from the other books. There is the same humor and same kick buttery as in the rest of the series. This series should be read in order. Same narrator as the rest of the series, she does a good job.

Really good addition to the series. :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story. I've always liked Ric and was happy to see him get his book. I wasn't so hot on Dee-Ann from previous books but she pulled it out in this book and by the end I loved Dee-Ann and was happy with her and Ric being together.

Dee-Ann is a Smith wolf shifter. She was raised in Tennessee by a daddy that most people fear and who taught her killing at an early age. She joined the Marines for years but got out recently. She joined her cousin's pack in New York and took a job working for "The Group" which is a covert shifter team that takes out threats to shifters. Dee-Ann doesn't really date but has been hanging around Ric (who is her supervisor for the Group) a lot lately and not just for work related reasons.

Ric is a Van Holtz wolf shifter and the son of the Alpha wolf for the Van Holtz pack in the New York area. Unfortunately, since his father hates Ric it just makes his life harder. Ric was raised more by his Uncle Van (from When He Was Bad which I loved. Van's always been a fave of mine) than his father and they're still close. Ric fell in love with Dee-Ann a while ago but has been trying to creep his way in to her life knowing that she's not a woman that can be forced in to anything.

Dee-Ann is working a case that's been ongoing through the last few books in the series. Some jerks are capturing hybrid shifters and using them in illegal fight clubs (and killing many of them). They've managed to shut down some of the fights but they know there's still some fights going on and someone knows they're on to them because recently they've been getting to the fights right after they've been closed down. During one of these instances, Dee-Ann and her team run in to a shifter team from the cat clans. Where "The Group" works to protect all shifters (no matter what breed) this other agency is run strictly by the cats. The leader of the other group is Marcella Malone who doesn't exactly get along with Dee-Ann. Because of their animosity towards each other, neither is thrilled when their superiors decide to team up agents from 3 groups, the human police (which means Desiree from book #1 The Mane Event), the cats (Marcella), and The Group (Dee-Ann). These 3 women are all rather alpha so trying to work together is not an easy task but they make the effort for the sake of the job. While all this is going on, Ric tries to get Dee-Ann to soften towards him. He teases and flirts lightly trying to push his suit without her killing him. I liked how Ric worked on getting Dee-Ann to accept him...he wasn't overbearing and pushy because he knows she's to alpha to get trapped in to anything, she needs to do the chasing to a certain extent.

Ric chases Dee-Ann without seeming to chase, feeding her whenever he can (his way of trying to take care of her and I loved that he kept saying that she's too skinny). Dee-Ann is attracted to Ric and eventually gives in to her attraction...falling a bit in to Ric's trap (Ric is rather wily and determined). At first not many people know but as they become more public many people are rather surprised and wondering how long it'll go on. Also, many people are worried about Dee-Ann's daddy and how he'll react to his little girl with a Van Holtz wolf (most people bet the reaction wont be good). Ric accepts Dee-Ann for who she is and doesn't try to change her (except to try to fatten her up) so she actually has a pretty easy time falling for him. They ease in to things but they've already known each other a while at this point so once things get going it doesn't take too long before things come to a head. Dee-Ann manages to make progress on the case as well as her relationship with Ric. Ric also has his own issues to deal with as his father and brother end up involved in some dirty dealing involving their pack that have to be handled as well. There's a decent amount of drama and a kidnapping attempt before things get settled but everything works out and Ric & Dee-Ann head in their HEA.

This was a really enjoyable book. I really liked Ric and Dee-Ann together and thought they complimented each other well. Ric's strong but doesn't feel threatened by Dee-Ann's strength (she could probably beat Ric's butt if she wanted to) and doesn't need to change her. The story was a good combination of romance and action plot, it was interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series which is about Marcella (who I kind of grew to like in this book). I'd recommend this book. Thumbs up. :D

stellar story well told!

the characterizations of the players in this story were phenomenal. there are laugh out loud moments. and all the other characters you've come to love show up the show The Love.

i just love shelly Laurenston

her books are a great joy to read. they make me laugh until my sides hurt. the Character really come alive for me.

Another great Pride Series book

Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as the two main characters were kind of obnoxious in the previous book. Leave it to Laurenston to have you loving both of their idiosyncrasies.

As I’ve come to expect from Laurenston the characters are wonderfully endearing, extended families are wildly humorous, and the plot twists plentiful. Narration is once again top notch.

Not to be missed!

One of my all time favourite books on this series!
It is best to listen to the previous books.

Big Bad Beast

I love love Shell y Laurenston books when ever I finish one in this series I'm a little sad because I know that I am almost to the end of the series. But I loved Dee ann and Rick two people I would not think would get together but they just worked.

Such an odd couple yet they work well together

I really 💕 Shelly Laurenston! She puts together unusual pairings adds suspense and humor to make a great book 📖.

Loved it

I love the series. When this one came out I read the summary and thought it wouldn't be as good. It is as good, maybe better, than the rest.